AFF and recurrency training

[skyblueyes 0]

Hey all! I just did my first jump at the end of April (tandem), and as the story commonly goes, I am hooked. I want to go through AFF and get licensed. My dilemma is that I won't be able to get through all the classes and 25 jumps by the end of the summer due to some prior commitments. What I am thinking is that I can try to get through at least level 7, then do recurrency and continue next summer. Is this something that sounds feasible? Someone told me that I should just wait and do it all next summer, but I really want to jump more this summer and I would rather use those jumps towards getting licensed vs. just paying a ton for more tandems that aren't getting me any closer to jumping on my own. What do you think?

Thanks!

[matt1215 0]

Carpe Diem my friend!! Why not make the most of this summer and make what jumps you can. Even if you do get your A-license this summer, you'll still run into recurrency by not jumping for 9 or 10 months. Will it be that hard for you to get out at least once a month to skydive?

[skyblueyes 0]

Well, I recently found out that I can actually jump all the way into November, so if I made my last jump for the "summer" in November and then my first jump of the next "summer" in March, I will only have 4 months in between, and I will still have to do recurrency training then. (I guess I should mention that I am in Ohio, so I can't just jump year-round.) The problem is that I hate being really cold, and I can't imagine jumping in November....it would freeze me. So I have between now and mid-June to get as much as I can done for AFF ( I am traveling across the country in late june/july, then starting med school in early august.) I guess my question is if I get through some amount of AFF, then can't do it for 5 or 6 months, can I do recurrency on the level I left off at? Or do I have to start over?

[skyblueyes 0]

I guess to sum up....would I just be wasting time and money starting AFF and then not getting it done by winter?

[matt1215 0]

If you love to jump, it's hardly a waste. You should be able to finish AFF between now and November.

[bigway 4]

Yeah, alot of money.

Can you not afford to do it all at once? you could take a week off and get your aff nailed out the way.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
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[CMiller 1]

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(I guess I should mention that I am in Ohio, so I can't just jump year-round.)

Actually, you can. Look up Canton Air Sports in Alliance OH, they're open all year. I did an AFF lvl3 with them in January. Just to let you know, it's very very cold.

[skyblueyes 0]

It would be really tough to pay all that money in one week. I know that recurrency carries extra costs, but I don't think I would have to do it on every level or anything. I would probably only run into it once. So I feel like it could work, to get through however much I can, then just brush up on repeating that level and finish out. What is the limit for not needing any recurrency? 1 month, right?

[skyblueyes 0]

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(I guess I should mention that I am in Ohio, so I can't just jump year-round.)

Actually, you can. Look up Canton Air Sports in Alliance OH, they're open all year. I did an AFF lvl3 with them in January. Just to let you know, it's very very cold.

Yeah I am not sure I could take that much coldness. Maybe.... But thanks for the heads-up! I didn't know that you could do that there. Nuts.

[matt1215 0]

I think I'll be traveling to Ohio this January for a naked jump .

[skyblueyes 0]

Hmmm...you'll have to let me know when....
I might have to come on out to see that....
Hehehe. What a thought. Makes me shiver just thinking about it.

[bigway 4]

The way you are going about it is dangerous.

You do not want to be uncurrent full stop really.
To be uncurrent on every jump as a student is not a good idea.

Wack it on a credit card or do it over a month. Doing AFF over a year is not the way to go. I am suprised anyone will let you do that.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
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[skyblueyes 0]

Who said anything about being uncurrent on EVERY jump?

[matt1215 0]

Will do. I might seriously do a nude jump in the winter (if not sooner), but it'll be at my home DZ in Florida. Even in Florida, still be pretty chilly.

[bigway 4]

Sorry, i read it wrong. 3am over here.

You dont want to be uncurrent during learning. If you have to, cool. I am glad you are getting into the sport.
Just try and get it done all togethor if there is a way for you.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
.

[bigway 4]

There is only one 6 hour class learning AFF plus briefings. (in countries i know anyway)
You only need to worry about the AFF part at first, is 25 jumps not just going for the 'A' license?

You want to nail the first 9 out of the way or you will more than likely finding yourself repeating alot of levels.

You should do all this at once, over a period of not really any longer than a month. Then keep going back to the same dropzone to do your consolidation jumps till you have 25 and a license. The first 9 jumps are the most critical. I know of many people who have failed levels multiple times and have to keep repaying for that level. You will have a very good chance of failing levels if you do not keep current through the first 9 levels.
after that you will just do consols but repeating any aff levels is very expensive.

I wish you all the best.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
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[skyblueyes 0]

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Sorry, i read it wrong. 3am over here.

You dont want to be uncurrent during learning. If you have to, cool. I am glad you are getting into the sport.
Just try and get it done all togethor if there is a way for you.

It's ok, I agree that being constantly uncurrent is unsafe. I believe that at the DZ I am going to go to if you are too far uncurrent at any level, you must sit through the level one class again before re-taking the last level you passed prior to your hiatus. I also agree that this is probably best avoided. My problem is I just want to do it so bad. I don't think I can wait a year to jump again. I will just have to figure out a way to get it all done in time. Can you do more than one level in a day? (I have to travel around 2.5 hours to the DZ)....maybe if I can pass multiple levels per visit I can get the most out of my free days. I guess I will just have to see....

[skyblueyes 0]

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There is only one 6 hour class learning AFF plus briefings. (in countries i know anyway)
You only need to worry about the AFF part at first, is 25 jumps not just going for the 'A' license?

You want to nail the first 9 out of the way or you will more than likely finding yourself repeating alot of levels.

You should do all this at once, over a period of not really any longer than a month. Then keep going back to the same dropzone to do your consolidation jumps till you have 25 and a license. The first 9 jumps are the most critical. I know of many people who have failed levels multiple times and have to keep repaying for that level. You will have a very good chance of failing levels if you do not keep current through the first 9 levels.
after that you will just do consols but repeating any aff levels is very expensive.

I wish you all the best.

Ok. See....I have been talking about trying to get through 25. I have no doubt that I can get through 9 without becoming uncurrent.

[bigway 4]

I know people that have got through AFF in 4 days, i know people that have taken 2-4 atempts on every level.
If you pay attention, stick with the same instructor, listen instead of talking and thinking you know you could do it very easily.
My advice though, i am not an instructor but do level one, give it a day do the next, then try and do two a day. Three a day will wear you out as all your energy is drained as you are not use to it. Do not read anything on these forums about learning AFF, do not listen to any other jumpers, listen to your instructor and that is it. He will teach you one way, if other people tell you things you will fail cause you are listening to others and not what your instructor is saying.

Good luck, you will love it and it shall love another falling through it.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
.

[skyblueyes 0]

Thank you for your advice!

[JerryBaumchen 1,354]

Hi skyblueyes,

Re: 'The problem is that I hate being really cold, '

If that ole skydiving bug bites you like it did me, you WILL jump in snow, sleet, rain, whatever. You think you hate the cold but when it comes down to jumping or sitting and the sun is shining????????

Best of luck with what ever way you go,

Jerry

[popsjumper 2]

I certainly agree with that, Jerry.

Temperature is very low on the consideration list....

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[Hawkins121 0]

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Hey all! I just did my first jump at the end of April (tandem), and as the story commonly goes, I am hooked. I want to go through AFF and get licensed. My dilemma is that I won't be able to get through all the classes and 25 jumps by the end of the summer due to some prior commitments. What I am thinking is that I can try to get through at least level 7, then do recurrency and continue next summer. Is this something that sounds feasible? Someone told me that I should just wait and do it all next summer, but I really want to jump more this summer and I would rather use those jumps towards getting licensed vs. just paying a ton for more tandems that aren't getting me any closer to jumping on my own. What do you think?

Thanks!

Travel to a 7 day a week operation and knock them out... It should only take you a week.

[georgerussia 0]

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I want to go through AFF and get licensed.

Depending on the weather and your skills, you may complete AFF in two weeks jumping both Sat and Sun.

* Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

[magnio 0]

I did my level 1-7 in 3 days (plus FJC), I had to redo level 5 and 6. Then I spent a weekend (Thursday night - Sunday afternoon) at a large DZ (with an Antonov 28) and did level 8 (I did 12 jumps), then I got my A-license.

As for cold: gee, get used to it! I did 30 jumps in Norway before Easter. When it's -18C on ground, it doesn't feel much colder in air. Just get some good gloves - military winter gloves are generally Very Good (mine say they are good for -60C, and I haven't frozen any of my fingers off, not even when pulling at 5000 in -10C). And woolen underwear next to skin.